The latest twist on designer parking garages: a
Jetsonesque elevator that whisks residents to their condos while they
are still in the driver’s seat.

Rendering of the 57-story, $650 million Porsche Design Tower condo
planned for Sunny Isle Beach by developer Gil Dezer. The building
features glass elevators that whisk drivers with the cars directly to
their homes.

Courtesy of Porsche Design Group

By Lidia Dinkova
Ldinkova@MiamiHerald.com

Pull over into the designated space. Turn off the engine. And
enjoy the oceanfront view as you escalate in a glass elevator that takes
you, while you are sitting in your car, to the front door of your
apartment.

No, this is not the latest Disney ride.

The $560
million Jetsonesque tower will rise in Sunny Isles Beach as part of a
collaboration between Germany-based Porsche Design Group and a local
developer, Gil Dezer. It likely will be the world’s first condominium
complex with elevators that will take residents directly to their units
while they are sitting in their cars.

“You don’t have to leave your car until you are in front of your
apartment,” said Juergen Gessler, CEO of Porsche Design Group.

Here
is how it will work: After the resident pulls over and switches off the
engine, a robotic arm that works much like an automatic plank will
scoop up the car and put it into the elevator. Once at the desired
floor, the same robotic arm will park the car, leaving the resident
nearly in front of his front door. Voila, home!